Sarwanam Theatre Announces Nationwide Ma Pani Actor Competition
Sarwanam Theatre has announced “Ma Pani Actor,” a nationwide children’s acting competition designed to identify, develop and promote young acting talent from across Nepal.
Children between the ages of five and 15 are eligible to participate. From the applications received nationwide, 30 promising contestants will be shortlisted and invited to deliver live acting performances at Sarwanam Theatre in Kathmandu.
The competition aims to provide young performers with more than a one-time stage opportunity. Organisers hope it will help children explore their creativity, build confidence and connect with professional theatre at an early age.
Cash prizes and free acting training
The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000. The first and second runners-up will receive Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.
Five outstanding contestants will also be offered three months of acting training at Sarwanam Theatre free of charge.
The training opportunity is expected to give selected children exposure to the fundamentals of acting, stage discipline, movement, voice and character development.
Applications open until August 10
Applications can be submitted online, with August 10, 2026 set as the final deadline.
Sarwanam Theatre has encouraged parents, schools and cultural organisations across Nepal to help children with an interest in acting participate in the competition.
The organisers believe support from schools, families and local communities will be important in reaching talented children outside Kathmandu and giving them access to a national platform.
A platform for Nepal’s future performers
Although many children display an early interest in acting, storytelling and performance, structured national opportunities remain limited. “Ma Pani Actor” seeks to address that gap by creating a platform where young talent can perform, receive feedback and take an early step towards formal theatre education.
The competition could also help identify future performers for Nepal’s theatre, cinema, television and digital entertainment industries.
Founded in 1982, Sarwanam Theatre is one of Nepal’s leading theatre institutions. For more than four decades, it has staged productions based on social, cultural and contemporary themes while providing acting education and nurturing new generations of theatre artists.
